McMurdo Station is a U.S. Antarctic research centre located on the southern tip of Ross Island, which is in the New Zealand-claimed Ross Dependency on the shore of McMurdo Sound in Antarctica. It is operated by the United States through the United States Antarctic Program, a branch of the National Science Foundation. The station is the largest community in Antarctica, capable of supporting up to 1,258 residents, and serves as the United States Antarctic science facility. All personnel and cargo going to or coming from Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station first pass through McMurdo.

An unmanned Falcon 9 SpaceX rocket lifts off from launch complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Wednesday, February 11, 2015, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. On board is the Deep Space Climate Observatory, which will head toward a solar-storm lookout point a million miles away. (Photo by John Raoux/AP Photo)

Imogen Bankier of Scotland (L) and Chris Adcock of England in action during their round one mixed doubles match in the Yonex All England Badminton Open Championship on March 9, 2011 in Birmingham, England.

Filipino firemen extinguish a burning vehicle during an earthquake preparedness drill in Makati city, south of Manila, Philippines, 22 June 2016. Thousands of people participated in the Metro Manila earthquake drill to prepare residents of nearly 12 million for a feared magnitude-7.2 quake that could kill thousands and displace millions, Emerson Carlos head of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said. Philippines sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area prone to seismic shifts that spark earthquakes and volcanic activity. (Photo by Francis R. Malasig/EPA)

The snow-capped Etna spews hot lava, near Catania, Sicily island, Italy, 26 November 2023. One of Europe's most active and tallest volcano has erupted again on 25 November 2023. (Photo by Dario Lo Scavo/EPA/EFE)

A yawning leopard appears to be laughing instead at Chobe National Park in Botswana in January 2023. (Photo by Nick Dale/Solent News & Photo Agency)

On October 31st, 2025, when the weather was in full autumn, citizens visiting the Taehwagang National Garden Chrysanthemum Garden in Nam-gu, Ulsan, are making memories among the chrysanthemums turning yellow. (Photo by Kim Dong-hwan)

Sarunphat Pannum, 30, poses for a picture as she celebrates Halloween in Bangkok, Thailand on October 31, 2024. (Photo by Chalinee Thirasupa/Reuters)